(Salem) – Oregon students who have lost a parent in a workplace accident or had a parent suffer a debilitating job-related injury may be eligible to apply for the Workers’ Memorial Scholarship. Applications are now being accepted for the scholarship awards, which are part of a Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) program.

“While nothing can replace a loved one, these scholarships can help challenged families finance higher education,” said Michael Wood, administrator of Oregon OSHA, a division of DCBS. “It’s unfortunate that such a program is needed but we are pleased to assist these students in reaching their educational goals.”

The Workers’ Memorial Scholarship is open to any high school graduate, graduating high school senior, GED recipient, current college undergraduate, or graduate student. Applicants must be a dependent or spouse of a fatally injured worker, or the dependent or spouse of an Oregon worker who has incurred a permanent total disability and whose claim for workers’ compensation benefits has been accepted. Scholarship funds are available for use at colleges within the United States.

The deadline for submitting an application for the 2012-2013 school year is Feb. 15, 2012 (early bird), with a final deadline of March 1, 2012.

An electronic application is available on the Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) website, www.oregonstudentaid.gov. Students can apply for more than 400 scholarships through a single application on the OSAC website.

About Oregon OSHA:

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, go to www.orosha.org.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.